Motivation vs. Discipline: Who of whom?
You probably remember that moment when you decide on something and immediately start wanting it. You start imagining what it will be like when you reach that goal, you look up different visualizations and nudge yourself to go after your dream. Is it motivation or the discipline itself? How to recognize these two different facts and what is the real difference between them? Let's look at it together.
Motivation: What is it and how does it manifest itself?
An ideal example for pure motivation is losing weight or just deciding to just start going to the gym and that's it. In such a case, the first thing that comes is a strong wave of motivation that will force you to step out of that comfortable stereotype. You search for different idols whose appearance you would like to achieve, you save different types of workouts that you will definitely try in the gym and you buy a fridge full of protein yogurts, vegetables and other healthy ingredients. But then you undergo the first training session and start to have doubts. Not only was it not to your liking, but you don't really know when you'll be there again because you don't have time. And that's exactly the moment when the motivation gradually starts to leave .
Motivation is usually only a short-term state , which our head often creates only until you break the comfort of a stereotype. The stereotype is really strong and it is not easy to break it. This requires discipline.
What is discipline and how to achieve it?
Discipline is a long-term habit, discipline and commitment to a set lifestyle . It's something that won't let you down even if you're having a really bad day. If you're using your discipline to meet your fitness goals, you're likely to keep going in leaps and bounds without anything holding you back. Discipline does not take into account whether you feel like it today or not.
How to transform your motivation into discipline?
- Respect your desires and goals
- Constantly remind yourself why you started and what your new habits are giving you
- Talk about new habits and delegate your motivation to others, let yourself be supported
- Don't think about why it doesn't work, stick with the beginning and slowly build your habits
Delegate your own motivation to others, let yourself be supported
Share your plans with your family. Do you want to lose 10 kilos, gain muscle or simply start living healthy? Tell them that. Speak up so others know and can support you. They will believe in you , and that will help you to progress further and further. After all, you can't just tell your loved ones that you've scrapped your plans. Be purposeful, disciplined.
Discipline and motivation from a longer term perspective
Motivated people can do incredible things. Motivation drives them forward. Scrambling in the to-do list is just fun after that. However, since motivation is not a permanent state, it is quite likely that a person will leave this engine before he has time to finish what he has done. It can also cause fluctuating mental states, such as sudden remorse . Discipline does not tolerate this. In the long run, discipline is a permanent code of conduct that consistently sees things through to their successful conclusion. Disciplined people are therefore able to achieve better results than motivated people.
What can you take away from this in terms of a healthy lifestyle?
Discipline is the ticket to consistent work that bears fruit. Adjust your perception of a healthy lifestyle in this way and you have won. Sport and a healthy diet will become part of you. But it requires patience, motivation (without it it will be difficult at first) and the will to persevere. But over time you will see that it is easy. For example, in fitness centers you will meet many disciplined people who will set an example for you. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people can be a win-win in everything, not just fitness. You will get the impression that you are not alone. And this is an important factor in maintaining a consistent process.
